Diary 101 Podcast

In this episode of the Diary 101 Podcast , host Akakandelwa Kandepwe sits down with Mwiche , founder of Green Giraffe , to explore her inspiring journey from banking to entrepreneurship. Mwiche shares how she built Green Giraffe into a climate-conscious snack brand empowering Zambian farmers through innovation and sustainability. The two discuss financial literacy, personal development, and bridgi...

In this episode of the Diary 101 Podcast , host Akakandelwa Kandepwe sits down with Sibeso Mofya , Zambia’s first female dual scholar and Chevening recipient, to discuss her inspiring journey in finance and technology. Sibeso shares what drew her to a career in finance, her views on the future of work, and how FinTech can transform Zambia’s economy . The conversation explores career transitions, s...

In this episode of Diary 101, we dive into a conversation with Chipepo Phiri, founder of Finance with Chipepo. This conversation unpacks the complexities of money within relationships, friendships, and parenting, shedding light on how emotional and psychological factors shape our spending habits. Chipepo shares her journey into finance, along with personal finance management principles that anyone...

In this episode of the Diary 101 Podcast , host Akakandelwa Kandepwe speaks with Sibeso Mofya , Zambia’s first female dual scholar and a Chevening and Mansion House Scholar, about authentic networking, leadership, and empowerment. Sibeso shares her inspiring journey — from rejection to becoming a scholar, from corporate finance to women’s empowerment through When Females Lead . Together, they disc...

In this episode of the Diary 101 Podcast , Akakandelwa Kandepwe and Kabwe Yambayamba dive into a heartfelt conversation on self-discovery, personal growth, and the evolving role of education in Africa. Kabwe reflects on her journey of embracing her identity as a changemaker, educator, and community leader, while sharing lessons from her leadership as the youngest female JCI Zambia president. Toget...

In this special birthday episode of the Diary 101 Podcast , host Akakandelwa “Aka” Kandepwe reflects on turning a year older and celebrating the podcast’s second birthday. Aka opens up about navigating her mid-20s — from redefining purpose and dealing with societal “shoulds” to outgrowing friendships and embracing change. With her signature honesty and humor, she explores identity, self-awareness,...

In this episode of the Diary 101 Podcast , Akakandelwa Kandepwe sits down with Steven Puri — a former IBM software engineer, DreamWorks executive, and now founder of Sukha , a productivity tool designed to help people achieve flow states. Steven shares his journey from building tech for blockbuster films like Independence Day and Braveheart to creating solutions for focus, motivation, and meaningf...

In this episode of the Diary 101 Podcast , Akakandelwa Kandepwe sits down with poet, musician, and author Ludo Freshe to explore her journey from studying accounting to pursuing a creative career in writing, music, and marketing. Ludo opens up about her memoir Ludo , which addresses mental health, resilience, and life choices, as well as her decision to remove an earlier poetry album guided by spi...

In this episode of the Diary 101 Podcast , Akakandelwa Kandepwe sits down with Christina Malake to reflect on their shared journey in environmental volunteering and climate change advocacy. Christina shares insights from her 15-year career in conservation education, including her current role as Education Coordinator at Game Rangers International. Together, they discuss their experiences as climat...

In this episode of the Diary 101 Podcast , Akakandelwa Kandepwe chats with Sandra about her journey from Belgium to Zambia, building networks across Africa, and the power of adaptability. Sandra shares insights on mentorship, volunteering, and entrepreneurship, highlighting how behind-the-scenes work can create big opportunities for young people. She also gives a glimpse into her upcoming e-book f...

In this episode of Diary 101, Akakandelwa sits down with entrepreneur John Soneka to unpack his journey from corporate life in Zambia and Canada to building his company, Zux Designs. They reflect on the challenges of Zambia’s entrepreneurial landscape—access to capital, information gaps, and high loan costs—while also celebrating progress in tech adoption, SME support, and hubs like BongoHive. Tog...

In this episode of Diary 101 , Akakandelwa chats with Nuria about creativity beyond art, her journey into photography, and their shared dream of living closer to nature. They also explore climate literacy through play-based learning and the importance of preparing children for environmental stewardship. The conversation dives into the challenges of donor-driven funding for African CSOs, the need f...

In this episode of The Diary 101 Podcast , Akakandelwa sits down with Cydian, a water scientist and father of three, to discuss the often-overlooked realities of water quality and access. They explore the gap between legal and healthy water standards, the science behind effective water treatment, and the role clean water plays in promoting gender equality and reducing infant mortality. The convers...

In this rich and reflective episode of Diary 101 , Akakandelwa sits down with Mwaka, host of The Duwit Podcast , to explore the realities of Zambia’s creative landscape and the entrepreneurial spirit behind building platforms that spotlight local talent. They unpack the cultural stigma around creative careers, barriers to salary transparency, and the struggles of navigating a saturated job market....

In this heartfelt episode of Diary 101 , Akakandelwa and Eunice dive deep into reflections on friendship, personal growth, and life transitions. They unpack everything from wedding experiences and setting healthy relationship boundaries to affirmations, professional development, and the power of honesty. The conversation explores the evolving dynamics of friendship, work-life balance, and intentio...

In this heartfelt episode of Diary 101 , Akakandelwa and Eunice dive deep into reflections on friendship, personal growth, and life transitions. They unpack everything from wedding experiences and setting healthy relationship boundaries to affirmations, professional development, and the power of honesty. The conversation explores the evolving dynamics of friendship, work-life balance, and intentio...

In this episode, Akakandelwa sits down with Mantate for a heartfelt conversation exploring the cultural significance of their names, the power of women’s leadership, and the impact of education in empowering young girls. They unpack Mantate’s journey from growing up in Zimbabwe to founding First Step Today Africa, an organization dedicated to building leadership capacity and institutional strength...

In this insightful episode, Akakandelwa sits down with Khushu Chanda, a mother of three and former early childhood teacher turned founder of EduPac Solutions, to explore the gaps and opportunities in Zambia’s education system. They unpack the stark divide between private/international and government schools, especially in adapting to digital learning and AI, and highlight the need for better infra...

In this heartfelt episode, Akakandelwa reconnects with Mwangala, a fellow member of the SUSI community, to reflect on their inspiring journeys and the power of meaningful connections. They reminisce about their transformative memories studying in America, their shared love for museums, and the cultural shifts they faced upon returning home. Mwangala opens up about her path into STEM, the family su...

In this episode, Akakandelwa sits down with sisters Praneet and Kanwaleen to explore their inspiring journey of launching an inclusive fashion brand for tall Indian women. They discuss how Praneet’s background in fashion design and experience as head stylist at Marks & Spencer, combined with Kanwaleen’s practical business skills and entrepreneurial mindset, shaped their mission to address the...

In this episode of Diary 101 , Akakandelwa dives into the critical topic of skills development for young people, drawing from her personal journey and work at Tonse Tech. She explores how students can go beyond academics to intentionally build essential life and career skills such as communication, problem-solving, financial literacy, and digital proficiency. Reflecting on her own transition from...

In this episode of Diary 101 , Akakandelwa is joined by writer and advocate Ifetayo Harvey, founder of the POC Psychedelic Collective. Together, they explore the importance of creating accessible, community-based healing spaces—especially for people of color navigating the mental health challenges shaped by systemic barriers. Ifetayo shares her entry into psychedelic work, the need for racial equi...

In this episode of Diary 101 , Akakandelwa sits down with Ronald Mwape, a marketer turned social entrepreneur. Ronald shares his journey from banking to founding the Social Green Network, which connects grassroots organizations with corporate CSR initiatives. Akakandelwa expresses appreciation for Ronald’s efforts and highlights how his diverse experiences have deepened her understanding of commun...

In this episode of Diary 101 , Akakandelwa explores the concept of mentorship and its significance in both personal and professional development. Drawing from her own experiences, she presents a practical five-step framework for identifying and securing meaningful mentor-mentee relationships. The discussion begins with the importance of conducting a self-assessment through a SWOT analysis to clear...

In this thought-provoking episode of Diary 101 , host Akakandelwa Kandelwa is joined by Shawn, CEO of the All Things Are Possible (ATAP) Group, to explore why Africa’s leadership crisis is not a skills deficit but a character crisis. The episode dives deep into how the podcast aims to equip African youth (ages 18–35) with soft skills and character development tools, filling the gap left by global...